Conveying and elevating machine



H. M. GILBERT ET AL CONVEYING AND ELEVATING MACHINE Aug.

Filed May l5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nh SH um WNA/INGLEY flan/ARD s. TMA/N625 Y JAMES w Tam/w61 EY Allgv 1 1944 H. M. Giusi-:RT E'rAl.` -21,354,990

CONVEYING AND ELEVATING MACHINE Filed May 13, 194.3 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HoHAce/zc/BE/er wa L/A/v H. Ta/vA//NGLEY o WARD s. Tz/Mv/NGLEY om *q A\18- l, 1944- H. M. GILBERT ET Al. 2,354,990

l CONVEYING AND ELEVATING MACHINE Filed May l5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 anun-110115 Home@ M. am SERT Patented Aug. 1, 1944 CONVEYING AND ELEVATING MACHINE vHorace M. Gilbert, William H. Tunningley,

Howard S. Tunningley, and James W. Tunningley, Gaines, Mich.

Application May 13, 1943, Serial No. 486,874

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveying and elevating machine.

An object of the invention is the production of an efficient conveyor to be used to convey and elevate baled hay, ear corn, and grain, or similar products from a wagon, platform, or the ground to a barn or other place of elevation.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an eiicient and novel machine which will aid in the unloading of grain, baled hay, or ear corn, and other such farm products, to allow the placing of the material to be unloaded on a conveyor to the height of a wagon and platform, and to have the same conveyed on an endless conveyor by power up to the place where it is desired to store or place the same, and the material can be conveyed from a position of about two and one-half feet off the ground for a distance upwardly of twenty-seven and one-half feet, with the length total distance of the conveyor being as far as a thirtytwo foot track will carry it.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3v is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the machine, part of the base including the wheel being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows. f

Figure 5 is' a fragmentary plan view of the tilting frame and conveyor thereon.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6 6, Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, I designates the Wheels, of any desired type,

that are mounted upon the axle 2, Fig. 2. Resting on axle 2 is an axle beam 3. U-shape couplings .4 surround a portion of the axle 2 and beam 3, and extend through plates 5, with nuts 3 engaging said plates, whereby beam 3 is securely held upon axle 2.

A pair of vertical hoist posts 'I rests upon beam 3 and are secured in any ordinary manner fixedly upon said beam. At the upper end of hoist posts 'I are horizontal eye-bolts l. Each eye-bolt has it eye on the outside of the hoist post 1. This gives an excellent clearance for the pulley device 9 to be mounted on the eye-bolt, with a free movement of cable 9 upon the pulley device. A

drum shaft I0 is mounted upon brackets II, Y

which brackets are xedly secured to one of the vertical surfaces of the hoist posts 1. A ratchet wheel I2 (Fig. 2) is fixedly secured to drum shaft Il, and a pivoted pawl I3, Fig. 1, is employed for engaging the bracket I2 to prevent unwinding of drum shaft I0. A manually operated handle I4 is xedly secured to one end of the drum shaft I0, whereby the cables 9 can be wound upon said shaft I0. One end of eachcable 941s secured to an eye-bolt I5, which eye-bolt is secured t0 a side section I6 of the tilting frame I1. Therefore, by manipulating the drum shaft I0, tilting frame I1 can be raised and lowered at its outer end at the will of the operator; this raising and lowering is illustrated by dotted lines A, Fig. 1.

Vertical braces I 8 are secured at their lower ends to the ends of axle beamv 3, while the upper endskare flxedly secured to the side faces of the hoist posts 1. 'I'his produces a very substantial structure.

A pair of legs I9 is employed, which are connected to the hoist posts 1 by means of reach bars 20. A cross bar 2| is fastened securely to the under edges of the reach bars 20. A draw bar 22 is notched at 23, and into this notch is fitted the cross bar 2I. A bolt 24 securely fastens the upper end of the draw bar 22 to the cross bar 2|, although the notch 23 doubly insures of an excellent assembly. The draw bar 22 lits into a notch 25 of a broad anchor bar 26; said notch produces a saddle for the draw bar, and said draw bar 22 is ilxedly secured in said notch or saddle by a bolt 21. The broad anchor bar 26 is capable of engaging the ground throughout; its length and when so doing it admirably supv ports the greater part of the load. The draw -bar 22 is in an inclined position, and on its outer Alower end is a -coupling device28. This coupling device comprises an upper angle plate 29 and a lower straight plate 30. The coupler device 23, together with the draw bar 22, and its assembled parts, performs a dualfunction, in that not only may the machine through the coupling device 28 be attached to a suitable conveying means, such as a tractor (not shown), but this coupling device and draw bar acts as an 'anchoring means. since, when a machine is uncoupied from the tractor, the coupling device normally rests on the surface, such as the ground, upon which the machine is located, with the lower straight plate 30 acting knife-like to enter the ground, if the surface happens to be. of such nature, or the-coupling device may have an object, as astone placed against it, which keeps the machine from creeping, or otherwise moving out of position, when placed by the operator for the desired results. The broad anchor bar 26 also engages the ground, and assists in holding and supporting u the machine comparativelyy rigid, for excellent operation. Therefore, it willb seen that this peculiar functioning of anchoring the machine entails the anchor bar 2B, draw bar 22 and couplingvdevice 28.

'I'he tilting frame i1.comprises the two side sec- .tions i6 with track rails 3| secured to the bottom of said sidesections I6 (Fig. 2) and extending inwardly thereon. The endless flight conveyor 32 ment after being adjusted. This structure of eye-bolts and angle brackets constitutes tightening devices for the endless sprocket conveyor.

On the top edge-of the side section i6 is formed a hopperlll (Fig. 3) which comprises a pair of tapering side portions 6I; each portion Si increases inheight from its vinner end to its outer end, producing a novel built-up unit on the lower end of the tilting frame. Secured between the side portions 6i is an inclined shelf G2; this shelf being highest at its outer end and lowest at its inner end, whereby the goods handled will be easily fed onto the endless conveyor from this hopper.

A pair of crossed braces 63 (Fig. 2) is secured to the hoist posts 1 near their lower ends; these braces 63 add material strength and durability to thestructure by making the hoist posts more firm and rigid.

travels in its upper run on. bottom boards 33 (Fig. 2), and in its return or lower run it travels on the track rails 3|. This endless fiight conveyor 32 comprises sprocket chains 34 (Fig. 4) with transverse webs or flights 35 secured to said chains 34 for eillciently handling the load conveyed by the machine. boards 33 are secured in approximately the middle-of the side sections I6, producing an excellent floor in the tiltingframe- I1, for'thve conveyor to travel on during part` of its run, as hereinbefore specified. The floor is supported upon drilled transverse members 36, in each one'of which is y Ya horizontal bolt 31. This produces an eicient i and strong support for the bottom boards. l

Asupporting rod 38 extends through the top portionlof legs i3 and also'throug'h the side` scctions IB near their lower ends, whereby the tilting frame is pivotally mounted vupon legs I3.

A pair of` inclined-braces 33 is mounted at their lower -ends upon supporting rod 38 and'their upper ends are securelyV fastened to the outer faces of the hoistposts YT. Thelower portionY of the sprocket chains 34 are mounted upon sprock- |`ets 40 (Fig. 4) which are secured to sprocket shaft 4|. The upper portion orV end of 'the sprocket chainsvare mounted upon sprockets 42,

which last-mentioned sprockets are secured Vtoshaft 43. On one end of 'shaft 43 is a sprocket 44 (Fig.V 1). Mounted upon sprocket 44 is drive chain". Drive chain 45 is also mounted upon sprocket 43,' which sprocket is flxedly secured to shaft 41. Shaft 41 is provided with a beltV It is to be noted that theV The novel arrangement of the eye-bolts 0 and the pulley devices 9 produces a very free movement, not only for winding the cables upon drum shaft I0 but also for raising and lowering the outer end of the tilting frame I1.`

In operation, the machine is moved to substantially the right position for operation through the medium of a tractor or animal power, then the coupling device 28 is unhooked and the lower or loading end of the machine is lowered to the ground, whereupon the anchoring means engages the ground or` supporting surface,

Y preventing the machine from creeping or getting ses wheel V43 (Flg..3), around which belt wheel is posalones motor beine; said' belt '4s being drivenY by motor 50.' 'I'he motor 50 is mounted upon platform 5I. The platform. 5I rests upon inwardly-extending horizontal feet 52; said feet l2 being integral with the lower end of vertical bracket arms 53. The upper ends of bracket arms I3 are secured to the reinforcing plates 54;Y

these plates are securedto the outside and at the middle of the side sections IB; this produces a very strong construction.

The lower sprocket shaft 4I is mounted in slots 35 (Fig. 4) Vand the outer ends of shaft 4I are mounted in the eyes 56 of eye-bolts 51.

These eye-bolts are'mounted in angle brackets Il, which brackets are secured; to the side sec-v tions i. Lock nuts 59 are secured upon the` 'bolts nagainst the brackets 5I, whereby the eye-bolts are retained against accidental move-A out of position. Then the material is delivered to the hopper 30, either directly from the ground or from a loaded conveyance, and then the material is discharged upon the upper run of the conveyor, whereupon it is engaged by one of the webs or flights and carried up the conveyor to its discharge end. Of course, it is understood that when the Vmachine is moved to its desired position, such as close to a barn or loft, the operator rotates drum shaft I0, through the medium of handle I4, to position the discharge end of the tilting frame so that it will register with the opening in the barn or loft, whereby the handled material can be`discharged through said opening into the barn or loft. Of course, if the opening is sumciently large, the discharge end can be projected right into the loft, greatly facilitating the handling of the material, whether it be loose material, sacked material, or baled material. An accurate adjustment can be obtained mentof our invention and illustrated the same in the accompanyingv drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of the same, and we,

therefore, reserve the right to make such altera-V tions or changes as shall fairly fall within the I scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is: 1. In a machine ofthe class described, the comjbination ofV a pair of vertical legs, reach bars fastened at their outer ends to said legs, a cross bar secured to the bottomedges of said reach bars, an ranchor bar secured to the outer edges of said legs, said anchor bar being positioned at the lower end of said legs, an inclined draw bar notched at its upper end, said cross bar seated in the notched upper end of said draw bar, said anchor bar provided with a saddle notch, said draw bar seated down in said saddle notch, and a coupling device on the outer lowerl end of said draw bar. v

2. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor-carrying frame having vertical posts and vertical legs for supporting same; an axle beam supporting said vertical posts, reach bars fas' tened at their ends to said vertical posts and vertical legs, a cross bar fastened to said reach bars, a broad anchor bar fastened to the lower portions of said vertical legs, whereby it is capable of engaging the\ ground throughout its length and supporting the greater part of the load, a downwardly-extending draw bar fastened at its inner end to said cross bar, said draw bar extending across and being secured to said anchor bar, and coupling plates extending in spaced relation from therouter end of said draw bar; whereby said coupling plates may enter the ground knife-like or be used for attachment purpose.

3. In a. machine of the class described, a conveyor-carrying frame having vertical posts and vertical legs for supporting same; an axle beam supporting said vertical posts, reach bars fastened at their inner ends to said vertical posts and fastened at their outer ends to said vertical legs, a cross bar fastened to said reach bars near end.

their middle, a broad anchor bar secured in vertical position to the front edges of said vertical legs and at the lower ends of said legs whereby said broad anchor bar is capable of engaging the ground throughout its length and support the greater part of the load, said anchor bar provided near its middle with a saddle notch, a downwardly-extending draw bar fastened at its inner end against two portions of said cross bar, said draw bar seated in the saddle notch of said anchor bar, means fastening said draw bar in said saddle notch, a coupling device on the outer end of said draw bar, and said coupling device provided with a straight knife-like plate parallel throughout with the lower edge of said draw bar.

4. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor-carrying frame provided with only a pair of wheels, said frame including vertical legs, said legs provided at their lower ends with an anchor plate bridging the distance between said legs, a draw bar beneath said frame and fastened intermediate its ends to the top portion of said anchor bar, means fastening the inner end of said draw bar to said legs, and said draw bar provided with coupling means vupon its outer HORACE M. GILBERT. WILLIAM H. TUNNINGLEY. HOWARD S. TUNNINGLEY. JAMES W. rIYUNNINGLEY. 

